Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Mountain Biking UK

This issue is all about stretching out the riding season and heading into winter with a bang, not a whimper – let’s make this autumn awesome! Summer’s over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to retire your bike to the shed. This issue is all about stretching out the riding season, exploring new places, having new experiences and heading into winter with a bang, not a whimper – let’s make this autumn awesome! If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably accrued a load of annual leave that needs to be used up, or maybe you’re just desperate to get away. Either way, we’ve got some great ideas for late-season riding adventures, from the 99 locations in our updated Trail Centre Guide, to roadtrips and new experiences in the UK and…

When the travel restrictions were (somewhat) lifted, I went straight into five weeks of travel and, I must admit, it’s been quite a shock to the system! Every trip has brought its own precautions and unique weirdness. Whether in France, Italy, Scotland or Madeira, I’ve fortunately managed to dodge quarantine at every stop. I’m currently sitting in Germany at the side of a trail with just one more flight to go until I’ve made it home quarantine-free! I’m super-happy to ride in some amazing new places once again, but that said, there’s no place like home, and I want to get some dirt jumping in. “For my last block of travel, I’ve taken my e-bike abroad for the first time. You’re not allowed to fly with the battery, so it’s…

Fabio Wibmer is Austria’s very own Danny MacAskill. It was Danny who originally inspired Fabio to pursue trials riding and make videos, after he saw the Scot’s first viral video for Inspired Bicycles in 2009. Since then, Fabio has gone on to achieve superstar status, amassing hundreds of millions of views for his incredible and inventive film edits, and to say they keep you on the edge of your seat is no understatement. He’s also a member of Danny’s Drop and Roll Tour. Fabio’s talent on a bike isn’t restricted to trials, either – he’s a former national downhill champion and was whip-off champ at the Dirt Masters Festival. We’re always excited to see what the YouTube star releases next, and we’re sure he’s inspiring a new generation of up-and-coming…

We’re excited to welcome our new designer Julia to the team. As well as being a dab-hand at all things arty, she’s handy on a bike too! We met up for a little of South Wales’s finest and she got stuck right in (quite literally, in the dirt at one point!). Jimmer has resurrected his very first MBUK long-term ride, a 2003 DMR Switchback frame (yes, he really has been with the mag that long!), which was lurking at the back of his shed. He’s built it up as a cruiser with some old Hope brakes, a mismatched SRAM 1x10 drivetrain and 26in Mavic wheels. DMR skinwall tyres give a fresh injection of cool. He needs to trim those cables though! Christmas came early for Luke this month. He was…

The 2017 Whyte G-160 S was a decent enough bike, but you’d be hard-pressed to describe it as a ‘Superbike’ in stock form. However, when Jim ‘Jimbob’ Sowden sent us photos of his unique makeover project, we just had to feature this “retro-modern throwback bike” and find out more about the story behind it. “Earlier this year, when riding with any kind of ‘dialled up to 11’ enthusiasm was frankly a no-no, I realised that I had a unique opportunity to do something creative,” Jimbob explains. “Having ridden and raced through the infant days of ATB [All Terrain Bicycle] riding, before it became MTBing, I remember those Bula-hat-wearing days fondly, through my rose-tinted, iridium-coated Oakley Frogskins. “I used to drool over the new components and emerging trends in magazines such…

THIS WRECKONING DOES EVERYTHING AN ENDURO BIKE CAN, WHILE ALSO COMING OVER LIKE A SNAPPY FREERIDE OR JUMP BIKE HALF THE TIME EVIL WRECKONING GX EAGLE £5,84529er enduro/mini DH rig with the feel of a 650b play bike This all-new Wreckoning is Evil’s third, packing a significantly different shape and more travel. When it launched in 2016, this hulking carbon beast was one of the first long-travel 29ers and was often labelled ‘enduro’, even though its meathead looks belied a surprisingly lively feel and it never came over like an out-and-out race rig. Its energetic ride relied on slightly conservative geometry (compared to many of its rivals, that is) and progressive suspension, which encouraged messing about and having fun more than any bike with more than 160mm of travel should.…

Microclimate A former Enduro World Series stage, this trail has everything from loamy steeps to rock rolls to switchbacks and the occasional punchy climb. It’ll always keep you on your toes. Howler Cut into a rocky hillside, Howler is fast. Winding through sharp shaley rocks it then pitches down into the trees and you’re thrown into multiple tight turns. When it opens out at the bottom, the only thing holding you back is your bravery. Billy Epic Starting with a similar style to Howler, there’s lots of sharp, loose rock before a chute with multiple lines brings you into dense trees. Roots come thick and fast all the way to the end. Lord of the Squirrels A classic. After a huge climb brings you into the alpine of Sproatt Mountain,…

EL ESCORIAL On the slopes of Mount Abantos you’ll find pine trees and rocks, many rocks. Close by is La Silla de Felipe II, a historical, magical place with beautiful views of the El Escorial royal monastery. Oak trees and big rocks covered with moss are the main trail features here. LA ADRADA A venue used for the Spanish Enduro Open races, and a favourite of the BlackTown Trails guides. Good for shuttling and with plenty of flow. Again, expect big pine trees and beautiful landscapes. EL PARDO Close to Madrid city centre, this is one of the few places in the area with no rocks, just fun, flowy, sandy singletrack. It becomes dry and slippery in the summer heat, but is perfect for winter riding because the granite-sand soil…

Cyril set up this e-MTB guiding and touring company six years ago to share this beautiful but little-known region. Based next to the Queyras National Park in the Hautes-Alpes of southern France, Guil E-Bike employ a team of local guides who are passionate about the area and mountain biking, and are friendly, knowledgeable and generous hosts. The company offer bike and kit hire, some of the most incredible trails we’ve ever ridden, and the best places to eat and stay in between. To find out more, check out www.guil-ebike.com.…

With With two tw decades s of o riding experience e e , , Rob R knows ws what works w and what doesn sn’’t t The only thing Tom loves more than his clapped-out VW Caddy is hammering test kit Jimmer likes to ride as fast as he talks, so he knows the right tools for the job Keen racer Luke is quick to identify what helps or is a hindrance between the tape Many years of breaking bikes means Alex can give reliable buying advice Skier turned enduro racer Sarah is always on the lookout for kit that gets results…

SPOT A focused beam of light that directs all of its power into one specific spot and travels far down the trail, but doesn’t give you any peripheral vision to the sides of the track. FLOOD This is a wider beam of light with broader coverage that can’t travel as far as a spot beam and is less powerful, but lights up more of your surroundings. LENS The glass in front of the bulb that dictates the light’s beam pattern. A diffuser lens can be used to increase the spread wider than a flood lens. L.E.D. Light Emitting Diode. These have replaced halogen bulbs thanks to their improved efficiency and durability. FORM FACTOR Lights are either all-in-one units or consist of a separate head unit (with the LEDs and controls)…

“It’s important to us that it’s free to ride here, and everyone’s welcome, young and old. It’s getting more popular every year and, even with a new overflow car park, it gets busy at peak times. Don’t push back up the tracks, as fast riders appear from blind spots at speed and it can get sketchy. Look at the jumps first too, as there’s a pretty big gap on Steel City. But the main thing is to follow Ride Sheffield’s motto and ‘be nice, say hi’ to other users and have fun!”…

Green: Easy Relatively flat and wide trails, suitable for young riders or beginners. There may be singletrack or loose gravel sections, but nothing steep or technical. Blue: Moderate Blue routes require basic off-road riding skills. They’ll have more singletrack, rocks and roots than a green trail, but nothing extreme. Red: Difficult Not for beginners. You’ll need good riding skills, decent fitness and a ‘proper’ mountain bike. Expect various obstacles and technical sections. Black: Severe Black routes can be very physically demanding and are only suitable for technically able riders. Orange: Extreme You’ll need good bike handling skills and fitness. Jumping will often be compulsory, sometimes with gaps to clear. Purple: No official grade When a trail doesn’t have an official grade, check the description in…

Skills loop Bottoms Beck 9.5km This is a short, easy ride suitable for families and novices. The trail has a good combination of singletrack and forest road as it follows an old railway line. That doesn’t mean it’s straight – you’ll twist and turn through Park Wood before finishing with a big grin on your face. The 8 18km The 8 is a really fun loop that takes in a variety of terrain from dark, twisting woodland to open moorland. The landmark point of the ride is Whelpstone Crag, and there are great technical rock features around there as well as some stunning views. It’s worth trying the optional black line of Hully Gully too, which is a unique descent with big wallride berms. Bike Park 0.5km Hope Line and…

Goosey Foot Tarn Trail 3.5km Grizedale Tarn Trail 10km Mushroom Trail 11km Moor Top Trail 11.5km Hawkshead Moor Trail 17km Silurian Way 23.5km The North Face 16km The North Face trail is an entertaining route, roughly half singletrack, which is suitable for less experienced MTBers yet also a lot of fun for expert riders. It has a few leg-burning climbs, which will test your uphill strength as much as the downhills test your skills. There’s some high-speed boardwalk, plus rocky sections, and they’re improving the trail with new rock features. The Black 1km This is an awesome blast of jumps and berms, with steep descents including a double-black option that’s not for the faint-hearted. It can be accessed from the red route or visitor centre.…

Getting there For the XC trails, follow tourist signage from A68 or Hamsterley village to the visitor centre. Postcode: DL13 3NL Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park has its own (busy) car park – go through the village and look for it on the right after three miles. Facilities Cafe, pay-on-exit parking, toilets. Nearby bike shop Inspiral Cycles, Bishop Auckland, 01388 606616, www.inspiralcycles.co.uk More information www.forestryengland.uk/ hamsterley-forest www.descendbikepark. com www.hamsterley-trail blazers.co.uk…

Borderline 6km Lakeside Way 40km Cross Border 40km (from Lewisburn) Osprey 13km This easy blue is perfect for beginners, with open and flowing terrain and no technical features. Lonesome Pine 21km An XC-style trail for riders looking to progress onto the reds, featuring a mix of forest roads and singletrack, great views and few technical features. Bloody Bush 33km (combined with LP) An add-on to Lonesome Pine, this loop is aimed at intermediate riders looking to discover the most remote parts of the forest, with an extra link to the 7stanes centre at Newcastleton. Deadwater 6.8km Negotiating the lower slopes of Deadwater Fell, this XC trail has technical features and some fast singletrack. Deadwater 10.2km The black sections of the Deadwater trail increase its length and add more difficult obstacles…

Green trail 2.3km Blue trail 0.8km These short urban trail loops make for a great introduction to MTBing. Red trail 3km Undoubtedly one of the best city trail loops in the country, this is fun and flowing from start to finish. It’s amazing how much it manages to pack in. Everything is well-built and the multitude of optional gaps are enough to keep even top riders happy. BMX track/jump line/ pump track Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just off training wheels, Leeds Urban Bike Park has you covered. The pump track and skills areas are perfect for kids, and the BMX track is fun on any wheel size. Descent line (Stainburn) 0.9km Stainburn’s closest thing to a downhill track, this has berms, rock drops, slow bits and fast bits,…

Bottle Rocket Split into upper and lower sections, this is the park’s most progressive trail and features rollers, berms and small jumps to help you develop your riding. L Plate With roots, rocks, jumps and multiple line choices, this trail in Rogate’s top site is great for adding technical challenges, while still keeping the gradient pretty gentle. Mainline One of the first trails built at Rogate, it mixes some tight turns and drops at the start with flowing jumps lower down. S&M This track is quite a recent addition to the park and was built in collaboration with DMR Bikes and their pro riders. It features flowing berms and jumps that become a little steeper and tighter before the road crossing. Then it boosts into a wooden whaletail feature (a…

Hopton Wood Warm-up loop 1.1km Red qualifier loop 1.7km Hopton Blue 4km This route is suitable for novices and follows wide forest tracks, with steep gradients in places. Pearce XC 13km An all-natural trail through Hopton Wood that incorporates tough climbs and rewarding descents. Difficult when wet, with roots and mud aplenty, but in the dry it’s a fun, fast, grin-inducing ride for experienced MTBers. Hopton DH tracks Various DH runs mix tight and technical riding with steep and fast sections. Eastridge Woods Revelation 8km Not for the faint-hearted, this short but sweet trail crams all the best bits of mountain biking into its short length. Challenging climbs and descents, with technical terrain under your wheels, make for a wild ride. Eastridge DH tracks Eastridge has several DH tracks and…

Green trail 1.2km A singletrack section ideal for all the family or just to use as a warm-up loop. Blue trail 10.1km This sweeping trail makes the most of its limited elevation. All the features are rollable so it’s great for novices, but when ridden at speed it’s still good fun for more experienced riders. Red trail 13km Tight, twisty singletrack with roots, drops, rollers and berms, including the famous Tank Traps section. Combine the blue and red for a big loop. The Summit skills area This boasts a huge variety of trails for all abilities, from greens with gentle corners and rollers to black trails with a 12ft wooden drop, plus dual slalom, progressive jumps and a 40ft tabletop. Red 20 Clubhouse Off-piste fun on short, flowy waymarked DH…

The World Championships have become an event where teams and sponsors roll out special custom bikes for their racers. This tradition began in 1996 with Shaun Palmer’s Intense M1 (right), which he raced to second place in Cairns, Australia. The stars-and-stripes paintjob may not have been the classiest, but it certainly made a statement. Since then, there have been a few standout designs. Sam Hill’s Iron Horse Sunday for the 2007 Fort William World Champs (left) was one of them. Sure, it was bold to run a gold fork and head tube, but Sam took the win and his second senior World Champs title so it worked for him. Another of our favourites is the red, white and blue Santa Cruz V10 Steve Peat rode in 2012 at Leogang, Austria.…

Summer’s over, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to be! Whether you’ve got leftover annual leave to use up or just want to make the most of the rest of the year, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. Here are our top tips for having an awesome autumn… 1 Seek out new trails The UK is home to some fantastic riding, and we’ve bundled a ton of it into our 2020 Trail Centre Guide, free with this issue. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll no doubt find somewhere that’ll spark your interest, and exciting new trails may be closer than you think. 2 Enjoy a late-season break Of course you’ll need to check the latest travel restrictions, but if you’re determined to get abroad, countries such as…

STAR LETTER A WELSH WELCOME I’d like to give a massive shout-out and a huge thank you to the crew who ride the Crene Valley near Swansea. Thanks to their encouraging actions, I’ve recently felt like I’m part of the bigger mountain biking scene for the first time, aged 53. Having got into mountain biking three years ago, I currently ride a budget full-suspension ‘acoustic’ bike. A few of the older fellas that got me into this great sport are now riding e-bikes and I can no longer keep up with them, so most of the rides I embark upon are solo. I was on a family holiday and cycling along the seafront from Mumbles to Swansea when I took a brief detour from the route to ride the Crene…

FORBIDDEN DRUID XT £4,999 No trail is off-limits Founded in 2019, Forbidden Bike Co have launched one bike so far, the Druid. This 130mm-travel, high-pivot trail bike was originally only available as a frame, but the Canadian brand have now released two full builds – the Druid SLX and Druid XT. The XT build shown here features a full Shimano Deore XT groupset with 12-speed, 10-51t cassette and four-pot brakes. To smooth out the trail it uses a 150mm-travel Fox 36 Performance Elite fork and a matching DPX2 piggyback shock. Cockpit kit comes courtesy of Race Face, as do the ARC Offset rims, which are laced onto DT Swiss 350 hubs. Sensibly, Forbidden have specced a stronger Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ tyre on the rear and a lighter Assegai…

• You don’t have to stay in the centre of the village. There’s lots of accommodation further out, which will be a short, traffic-free ride away on the Valley Trail. • The Creekside Gondola c arries bikes during the main season, so looking at accommodation in Creekside is a g ood idea. It’s also a lot quieter than the village centre. • Check the Whistler Blackcomb website when you book your trip and look at prebooked lift passes. Often you’ll be able t o get big savings here. • At the start and end of the summer ther e are often off-season food deals • Don’t come for the riding during Crankworx – the lift queue is hug e and the whole village is packed. However, the week after Crankworx can be uncharacteristically quiet in…

We stayed with BlackTown Trails, a company run by some of the most qualified MTB guides and coaches in Spain. They offer tailor-made holidays to suit your skill, needs and preferences, and will collect you from the airport and provide shuttles if required, taking a lot of the stress out of your holiday. They also offer trips to Aínsa (which hosted Enduro World Series rounds in 2015 and 2018) and the Pyrenees. Santa Cruz bike hire is available for their Madrid packages. www.blacktowntrails.com…

Hospitality Prepare to eat well! The produce is mostly local, the cheese out of this world, and the wine and coffee hard to beat. Refuges Unlike our basic British bothies, the French and Italian equivalents offer comfy beds, cosy stoves and plenty of wood. Local communities keep them maintained. Altitude On an e-bike you can get to some high points with killer descents, which would be near impossible under your own steam or without the aid of a chairlift. Attitude Locals won’t bat an eyelid as you cruise past on an e-bike – in fact, many alpine communities are embracing the e-bike as a more eco mode of transport. Bike set-up The hire bikes typically have 140-160mm of travel, with grippy 2.4-2.8in tyres and powerful brakes. They take a beating,…

Halfords Bikehut 30pc Bike Tool Kit £50 SO GOOD… Thanks to rubberised handles, the larger tools are comfortable to hold. The 8mm Allen key proved useful, doubling up as a ½in driver for other tools in the kit. We found the quick-link pliers worked well. The tyre levers feel robust. During transportation, the tools all remain in place, helped by the central foam separator. The plastic carry case is durable and locks closed with metal clasps. NO GOOD… Because the Allen keys are short, they only offer limited leverage for loosening tight bolts. The ½in driver adapter can easily slip off the 8mm Allen key. We found the combined pedal spanner/chainwhip frustrating to use as a spanner because the chain contacts your hands, and the whip is a tight fit…

Our technical editor Tom’s first race was an XC event in Scotland, and since then he’s tried almost every format of skinny-treaded racing out there, so he knows what makes a bike fast between the tape. He’s racked up plenty of miles on XC bikes this summer, including bi-weekly local blasts as well as more epic rides, including a 145km monster while testing these four bikes. After all, if you’re going long, you’ve got to make sure you’re on the right machine for the job!…

REMOTE Some lights have bar-mounted remote controls. These make changing modes safer because you don’t have to take your hand off the grip to reach the button(s). EXTENDER CABLE To keep lights versatile and allow for both bar and helmet-mounting of lightweight head units, extender cables are often included or available as an extra. They enable you to carry the battery in your pack if you mount the light on your lid. BAR MOUNT Lights can be heavy, so most bar mounts are plastic or metal and are secured with an Allen bolt or quick-release lever. Some lighter options use rubber O-ring or strap mounts. Make sure you check the light’s bar clamp is compatible with your handlebar diameter. WATERPROOFING While most brands make their lights water-resistant to avoid short…

THE ROUTE TO SUCCESS Q I’m really struggling with the internal cable routing for my dropper seatpost. Any tips? Heather Prestwich, via email A Different frames have different internal routing options, so it all depends on your bike. However, it’ll always be easier to do in a well-lit environment, maybe even with a head torch to help you see down the seat tube. Generally, we’d start by removing the bottom bracket, as well as any cable clamps, removable guides and grommets (but remember to thread them over the new outer cable/hose, as appropriate, before threading it through). Some bikes have smaller tubes inside the main frame tubes to guide the cable/hose. These should, in theory, be fairly easy to use. You may just have to push, with a bit of…

Our personal pick for best eatery in the area goes to The Blacksmiths Arms in Lastingham. Entering this centuries-old pub is like stepping back in time. The traditional pub grub, such as burgers and fish and chips, is delicious and served in huge portions, and there’s always a good selection of ales on tap. Get there early on a hot day and grab an outdoor seat looking out over an ancient church, or perch in the shaded back garden if it’s too hot. www.blacksmithsarms lastingham.co.uk Further afield, Helmsley is a beautiful market town with numerous good pubs, posher restaurants, award-winning fish and chips, and great ice cream. www.visithelmsley.co.uk…

Route summary A gentle and pleasant ride through some lovely countryside, along well-marked trails, with great pubs and cafes along the way. Start/Finish Waltham St Lawrence roadside parking (grid ref SU 830/769, postcode RG10 0JJ). 1 Head west on Milley Road, past Neville Hall on your right. After the last houses, turn left on a byway (Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit – KHBC). At the next road, go left (on a track by the tarmac on the far side), then soon after, turn right on a lane, which becomes off-road, then turns back into a lane. Ride to a road T-junction and go left (by a small horse-rider sign). 2 After 150m fork right on Bailey’s Lane. Follow this, bearing left, then turn off to the right, signed ‘Shurlock Row’, on…

TRAIL STATS DistanceSteel City 774m, Pub Run 651m, DH3 519m Climbing Riding to the top takes about 10 minutes Time 1+ minutes GradingRed and black WHY RIDE HERE? It’s a great place to hone your trail skills and ride really fast on feature-packed terrain, as well as being the epicentre of Sheffield’s riding scene. RAD… Easily accessible, totally free-to-ride trails Rides well in any weather Tracks are manmade, so have cool berms and jumps, but feel very natural due to the rocky surface BAD… It really hurts if you come off Limited trails Parking gets busy on sunny days No on-site cafe or shop…

GETTING THERE Grenoside lies on Woodhead Road, just north of Sheffield. It’s easy to reach from J35 or J36 of the M1, and a 30-minute pedal from the railway station (uphill). The postcode is S35 8NY. FACILITIES Free parking. NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Tony Butterworth Cycles is down the road on the way into town. www.tonybutterworths. com CONTACT Ride Sheffield have info on events and dig days. www.ridesheffield.org.uk OTHER RIDING Wharncliffe Woods can be reached without even moving your vehicle and has a ton of dirty and steep downhill tracks as well as some secret jump zones. Local knowledge helps, but if you ask nicely and scratch around, you’ll find enough for a few hours. Parkwood Springs is another small, purpose-built trail centre, literally overlooking the city centre next to the…

Getting there Aston Hill is located in Buckinghamshire,a five-minute drive from the Aston Clinton/Tring or Wendover exits of the A41. Nearest postcode: HP225NQ Facilities Parking, portabletoilet, coaching, cafeinnearby Wendover Woods. Nearby bike shop Mountain Mania, Tring, 01442822458, www.mountainmania cycles.co.uk Lovelo Cycle Works, Berkhamsted, 01442873000,www. lovelocycleworks.co.uk More information www.astonhill.co.uk www.forestryengland.ukFirecrest Mountain Biking (coaching),07711638195, www.firecrestmtb.com…

Getting there The Nova trail begins from Ashton Court’s upper car park, accessed via Clifton Lodge gate, just up the road from Clifton Suspension Bridge. Nearest postcode: BS8 3PX Leigh Woods is just over the road from Ashton Court. Ride down North Road to start Yer Tiz halfway round. Nearest postcode: BS8 3QB Facilities Ashton Court: Bike hire, bike shop, skills coaching, cafes, pay-and-display parking, toilets. Leigh Woods: Pay-and-display parking, snack hut (weekends only). Nearby bike shop Pedal Progression 0117 973 1298, www.pedalprogression.com More information www.pedalprogression.com…

Fairoak 4km Chase Heritage 8km Sherbrook 12/20km This trail meanders through woodland and heathland, and has two consecutive loops. Follow The Dog 10.8km The Midlands’ first dedicated MTB trail. It’s 75 per cent singletrack and aimed at beginners to intermediates. The trail is mixed – fast and flowing, with some tight and technical sections. You should be able to get around in under an hour but it’s entertaining enough to make a second lap worthwhile. Monkey Trail 22.8km (inc. Follow The Dog) More physically and technically demanding than FtD, with some trickier trail features and several black options. It ends with the awesome Lower Cliff descent. Downhill Area Known as Stile Cop, this boasts about a dozen downhill runs. The tracks are just a minute or so long, but they’re…

Getting there The XC routes and DH trails are all accessed from the Cannop Cycle Centre, home to the Pedalabikeaway shop and cafe, just off the B4234. Postcode: GL16 7EH Facilities Bike hire, bike shop & workshop, bike wash, uplift (FlyUp Downhill), coaching and guiding, cafe, pay-and-display parking, showers, toilets, suspension tuning. Nearby bike shop Pedalabikeaway (on site), 01594 729000, www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk Dean Forest Cycles, Parkend, 01594 368009, www.deanforestcycles. co.uk Sprung Suspension, Cinderford, 01594 800910, www.sprungsuspension. com More information www.deantrailvolunteers. com www.flyupdownhill.co.uk Coaching and guiding: www.wyemtb.co.uk…

Pump track HSD 1.1km Less brake-burning than Gawton’s other offerings, what HSD lacks in steep chutes it makes up for in speed. Cutting across the hill with traversing straights, it’s not too hard to get down, but doing it fast is another story. Proper Job 0.8km There are corners, rollers and jumps aplenty on this flowing yet fast red run. Super Tavi 0.8km Gawton’s first track was named after local spot Tavistock Woodlands. A sizable step-down and even bigger road gap set the tone for the rest of the track, which is steep, with rock and root-infested switchbacks. Rattler 0.5km Running just a short way down the hill, this jump track has a mixture of tabletops, hips and doubles, with small and big options. It’s an easy push-up, or makes…

Discovery 2.4km A well-surfaced route for beginners and families. Walkers use this trail too, so be aware. Spicers 3.7km This trail is one step up from the green, with some narrower sections and gentle gradients. Kiddens 6.4km The next progression from the Spicers trail. There are greater challenges here, in terms of both gradient and terrain. Ridge Ride 9km This would be more aptly described as a pink trail rather than a red. The not-too-difficult singletrack that weaves through the trees is fun and flowy, and the downhill start away from the car park is a welcome change from the norm. Skills area and pump track The skills area is designed to give a taster of the features you’ll find out on the marked trails, while the pump track is…

Skills loop 1.6km Blue 14.5km A wide route that uses purpose-built cycle trails, forest roads and the tarmac forest drive to explore the woodland. Red 23.5km This is a longer, harder version of the blue trail that takes you to further reaches of the forest on a mixture of fireroads and singletrack. There are superb views at the top, overlooking Eggleston Moor. The trail follows a figure-of-eight route, crossing over itself at The Grove car park. Black 13km The black trail is both strenuous and technically challenging. It combines steep, technical climbs with smooth singletrack and great descents to create a great natural-feeling route. Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park The five DH tracks are tough and technical, with steep rock chutes, berms to rail and jumps of all sizes. There’s…

Family trail 4.8km An easy trail that can also be accessed from the Center Parcs village. Robin Hood trail 9.6km This loop (previously the Adventure trail) uses the green route and the nearby NCN path to take riders deeper into the forest. It was upgraded last year with a 2.2km section that has fun features and better flow, and further improvements are underway. Outlaw trail 12.8km Formerly the Kitchener trail, this flowy, twisty singletrack route is great fun and a challenge to ride at speed. It has a new-and-improved 1.5km section. Look out for the ‘hidden’ off-piste singletrack too. Bike park 0.8km The DH zone includes technical features and challenging terrain, with a number of interlinking descents that criss-cross their way down the hillside. The dirt jump zone is under…

Summer Lightning (Leith Hill) 7.3km This is the only waymarked MTB trail in the Surrey Hills and starts near the tower at the top of Leith Hill. It’s a flowy mix of swooping berms and jumps, with a few off-camber roots to keep you on your toes, plus some short pedally sections. A great blast! Barry Knows Best (Holmbury Hill) 1.1km Starting from Radnor Road, this is the area’s most famous trail. Expect dips and bumps, jumps to pop off and big berms to keep the flow. Supernova (Pitch Hill) 0.9km A flowing run, off Lawbrook Lane, which takes you back to the car park in Peaslake, with a few roots, small jumps and bermed turns – a good one to save for the return to the car/van.…

Gorse 10km Suitable for children and riders on gravel bikes or hybrids, this well-surfaced trail opened last year and sticks mostly to forest roads, where gradual climbs take you to some of Whinlatter’s quieter and most scenic spots. Quercus 7.5km Flowing singletrack with gentle berms and rollers – great for those finding their feet off-road. Altura 19km Split into 10km and 9km north and south loops, the Altura trail has more challenging climbs than Quercus, but also Whinlatter’s best descents. You won’t find anything too hair-raising, but there are a couple of black options to add a little spice to the ride.…

While 2020 hasn’t exactly gone to plan for racers, organisers or anyone else for that matter, we’re hoping the World Champs – scheduled for 7-11 October in Leogang, Austria – will go ahead. Although there’ll probably be a less-than-full field, we can still expect to see some outstanding racing. Plus, with this event being the first world-level racing of the season, it could well throw up a few surprises as to who ends up wearing the rainbow stripes. Cross-country cats Being (what should have been) an Olympic year, you’d think the XC stars would be in peak shape. However, in the women’s field, two of the top three racers – Jolanda Neff and current world champ Pauline Ferrand-Prévot – have undergone surgery this year, and the reigning World Cup champion,…

1 EVOC duffle bag Tough, waterproof and coming in sizes for short trips or big adventures, this EVOC bag has your back. From £109.99 www.zyrofisher.com 2 Troy Lee Designs D4 Carbon full-face helmet No other lids have quite the same long-standing desirability as TLD’s D-series downhill helmets. £500 www.saddleback.co.uk 3 Fox Airline gloves White gloves were all the rage in the mid-2000s and we’ve never lost our affection for them. Made for MX, we reckon these should work well for MTBing too. £30 https://uk.foxracing.com 4 Fox Vue goggles Available in red or white (but sadly not blue), these high-tech eye protectors ain’t cheap, but look pretty sweet. £110 https://uk.foxracing.com 5 Chris King ISO MTB Boost hubs Chris King parts have legendary status, so these will give you big bragging rights.…

On the 25th anniversary of his death, Jason McRoy has finally been inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. He’s joined by MBUK founder Tym Manley, regular MBUK snapper Steve Behr and Welsh trail centre pioneer Dafydd Davis, along with French XC legend Julien Absalon and American tubeless trail-blazer Stan Koziatek (yes, that Stan). The press release announcing the move rather churlishly stated: “Many of us might question how [these four Brits] came to be honored [sic] in lieu of more popular, higher-profile personalities who have also made contributions to our sport.” But that just goes to show the US bias of the MBHOF (based at the Marin Museum of Bicycling in California), because for riders of a certain age here in the UK, JMC is a bona fide…

Looking more like a Muppet’s mouth than a kneecap, the aftermath of Gary John’s high-speed crash into a storm drain after lots of rain at Afan Forest in Wales reminds us exactly why pads should be one of the first things to pack for any ride. Gary explains: “Typical! The one day I couldn’t find my knee pads, I went riding anyway and ended up with 210 stitches. While waiting to go into surgery, I ordered a subscription to MBUKwith free G-Form Pro pads, only to arrive back home and discover that my daughter had found the SixSixOne pads I’d misplaced!”…

HOW WE TEST THE KIT Starts with a detailed product check in the workshop. We strip and rebuild, checking for any problems. Next we hit the trails… hard! We test in real riding conditions for the complete picture. And finally we re-test with another tester. WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our test team is made up of the most respected bike and kit testers in the world. We have unrivalled knowledge and experience, and spend a vast amount of time making sure we get it right. We tell you the truth and aren’t influenced by PR or advertisers. ABOUT OUR TEST TEAM Our technical-editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, gets new products in as soon as they’re available and coordinates all the testing through our vastly experienced band of reviewers. Bell Spark…

TOM’S HOPE HB.130 £6,585 Just in the nick of time, Tom got out to some bigger hills I’m one of the lucky ones. In that short, non-quarantined window this summer, I made it out to the Alps with my HB.130, and then got home again without having to become a hermit for 14 days (although, of course, I took precautions to keep myself and everyone else as safe as possible). It was a fairly last-minute decision. I chucked the Hope (and a road bike) into the back of my van, jumped on a ferry and cruised down to the Alps, soaking up all the good stuff France has to offer on the way (mostly croissants and red wine!). I was staying with my friend Sam from BikeVillage, for a…

Night riding is the perfect way to freshen up well-ridden routes with a new element of excitement. Corners come from nowhere, roots and rocks feel bigger, and shadow-shrouded obstacles loom out of the darkness. A good light will help mitigate some of these perils, but how many lumens do you require to stay safe, and how much do you need to spend? The more lumens (a measure of the amount of light emitted) your light puts out, the further down the trail you’ll be able to spot obstacles and the more clearly defined they’ll be, with fewer shadows. Our experience tells us that 1,500 lumens is the minimum you need to safely ride most technical trails without feeling under-illuminated, so all the lights in this test are advertised as being…

Trail riding is great fun and, for most people, it’s made even more enjoyable as you improve. The feeling of conquering that difficult line, accelerating out of a tight corner or just riding free without worrying about crashing is amazing. Here are some useful approaches to help you take your trail skills to the next level. 1. SESSION SECTIONS Repeating the same section of trail a few times over until you have it dialled is a great way to progress. Other than being a laugh watching your mates, sessioning can help you build muscle memory and program your body to make the right movements subconsciously. Naturally, this is worth doing on sections that you find tricky, but it can be helpful elsewhere too. Finding a piece of trail that’s fun…

1 Keep it clean Cleaning your bike will not only improve its appearance, but will also stop any caked-on dirt from accelerating corrosion and wear of components, including the suspension pivots, chain and bearings. Pay particular attention to the drivetrain, making sure to dry the chain with a rag and relube it afterwards. See MBUK 377 for further details. Keep suspension seals nice and clean too, giving them a gentle wipe to remove dust and dirt, then a quick spray of suspension lube. 2 Headset, go Pull the front brake lever and gently rock the bike back and forth with one hand while feeling for play in the upper headset cup with the other. If there is some, loosen the bolts on the back of the stem, tighten the top…

STEVE PEAT The British downhill legend is part of why these trails are official and so popular MICK KIRKMAN MBUKtester and pro snapper Mick is a former DH racer who’s still flat-out fast when he’s not behind the lens CHRIS SUTCLIFFE Chris has raced down Steel City before, and was buzzing to chase after Peaty ZAC MCGOWAN Human dynamo Zac channels his youthful energy into repeatedly whipping and playing on jumps TIM EASTON When not teaching North Yorkshire’s kids the ‘three R’s’, you’ll find Tim behind the bars at every opportunity…

Blue Raccoon 1km A flowy blue with rollable features, big berms and small tabletop jumps, equally fun at speed for experienced riders. Cheese Roller 1.2km This line of well-sculpted berms, rollers and doubles will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Dubby Skipper 0.9km A fast, flowing track full of berms and jumps for those who like airtime, with optional doubles throughout the track. Kinky Hose/MissingLink/Pinball Wizard 150/300/450m Fast red with rock features, big berms, jumps and small drops, leading into a flowy tabletop jump line. Igneous 0.9km The jagged rocks of this technical descent are waiting to catch you out if you put a foot wrong or don’t have enough wind behind your wheels. Infinity and Beyond 300m New double-black jump line with a ladder drop and 50ft gap…

Surface 2 Air The Hill’s first dedicated all-weather freeride trail, this is steep and swoopy with jumps and drops. Downhill tracks The four DH runs each have their own character and last 1min 30secs to 2mins. With roots, off-camber sections, tight switchbacks, more roots, rock gardens, jumps and rooty drops, they really test your skills – especially in the wet! Pump track Suitable for riders of all abilities, the pump track is ridable year-round and ideal for practising your pumping and cornering skills on. XC trail 6.5km This makes up for lack of distance with technical challenges – perfect for enduro training or a lap or two on an e-bike. A mix of killer climbs, winding singletrack, technical features and bermed, flowing turns. 4X track 45secs Packed with tabletops, doubles,…

Nova (Ashton Court) 6.5km The Nova trail had a welcome makeover last year. It isn’t too technically demanding but has enough berms and trail obstacles to keep you entertained. While fairly flat, it has enough pump and flow to make it fun, especially at speed, plus a short, sharp climb that’s good for fitness training. The 0.8km red-graded Supernova trail is an optional skills loop with jumps, berms, rocky sections and a more technical descent. Yer Tiz (Leigh Woods) 3.6km This is another manmade trail aimed at novice riders but it contains plenty of features that make it fun for more experienced bikers as well, plus a couple of short red-graded optional sections that’ll test your technical skills. Divert onto the skills loop to practise your drop-off and technical climbing…

Ellerburn family route 4km Ellerburn skills area 300m Adderstone trail 12.4km Taking in amazing views across the moors, this trail has long and short options, mainly on traffic-free forest roads. Jubilee Blue 11km This easy route combines flowing singletrack with open terrain and some steep sections. There’s also a brilliant descent filled with swooping berms and rollers. Red trail 34.3km The red trail can be started from the Low Dalby or Dixon’s Hollow car parks. An epic singletrack adventure with a variety of technical climbs and descents, it can be split into three distinct sections – Newclose Rigg, Jerry Noddle and Riggs & Dales – each of which can be ridden as its own loop. World Cup XC 6.4km This strenuous pro-level track is best ridden while imagining you’re racing…

Skills area Pump track Family trail 17.5km Verderer’s 11km Packed with switchback climbs and beautiful berms, and with an exciting final descent, refurbed this year, this is great fun for all abilities. Freeminer’s 16km A varied trail with tight singletrack, tricky climbs, drops and berms, plus sections of rooty singletrack where line choice is critical. Enduro trail 16km This isn’t waymarked but is well worth seeking out, as it’s more natural- feeling and takes you out to the boundary of the valley. All features are rollable but you need your wits about you for the final tight and steep descent. DH tracks There are 10 marked runs (plus a dozen or so unofficial ones), which take about two minutes to get down. They range from the berms and drops of…

Getting there Grizedale is situated between Coniston Water and Windermere. Head north out of Hawkshead, turn right up a tiny lane signposted to Grizedale and the trail centre is two miles down the road. Postcode: LA22 0QJ Facilities Bike hire, bike shop, cafe, pay-on-exit parking, toilets, visitor centre, Go Ape high-ropes course. Nearby bike shop Biketreks Grizedale (on site), 01539 431245, www.bike-treks.co.uk Velo Ulverston (formerly Grizedale Mountain Bikes), 01229 581116, www.velobikes.co.uk More information www.forestryengland.uk/ grizedale…

Purple trail 1.5km Green trail 9km This starts with a fun descent through woods and takes you past Hadleigh Castle. 2012 Olympic XC track 5km Designed to test the best athletes in the world, the Olympic XC course contains almost 1.7km of climbing per lap as well as a number of sharp technical descents. Riding it fast is a real test of fitness, and taking on the six optional black features – such as Triple Trouble, Deanes Drop and Leap of Faith – will challenge your skills and nerve. The blue trail is 4km and nontechnical but has steep ascents and descents with some tight berms. Skills area and pump track Warm up in the skills area and wind down on one of the two pump tracks.…

Getting there Leeds Urban Bike Park is located in Middleton Park, four miles south of the city centre and close to the M1. Postcode: LS10 3TN Stainburn Forest is a 30-minute drive northwest of the city centre. The trails start from Norwood Edge car park. Postcode: LS21 2RA Facilities Leeds Urban Bike Park: Parking, bike shop, bike hire, bike wash, cafe, toilets, coaching. Stainburn: Parking. Nearby bike shop Fully stocked shop on-site at Leeds Urban Bike Park, www.leedsurbanbikepark. com Chevin Cycles, Otley (near Stainburn), 0800 0234 146, www.chevincycles.com More information www.leedsurbanbikepark. com, 0113 277 2413…

Lady Cannings Plantation There are two trails here – Blue Steel (1.4km) and Cooking On Gas (1.6km). Both are ‘rollercoaster’ tracks with no jumps. A proposed red descent at Redmires Reservoir is – still – going through planning. There are lots of bridleways here if you want to extend your ride. Parkwood Springs Right near the centre of town, this 2km blue with red options has classic flow, with lots of berms, jumps and rollers. There’s also a dual slalom track. Greno Woods Steve Peat’s training ground is a rough-and- ready treat with two red-graded descents, Pub Run and Steel City, and one black DH run, DH3. There’s also a signposted 3.5-mile loop using other trails. Bolehills There’s been a BMX track here for years, and both the main track…